German House

German House
Life Span: 1857-1871
Location: N. Wells, se. cor. Indiana (Grand)
Architect:

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859

German Hall

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859
German House Association, German Hall, Wells, s. e. c. Indiana

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
German House, N. Wells, se. cor. Indiana
German House Association, N. Wells, se. cor. Indiana

A Strangers and Tourists Guide to the City of Chicago, 1866

THE GERMAN THEATRE,
Corner of North Wells and Indiana streets, in the North Division, is the favorite evening resort of the German citizens of Chicago. The performances are in German.

A Strangers and Tourists Guide to the City of Chicago, 1869

THE GERMAN THEATRE,
On N. Wells street, corner of Indiana, is a favorite resort for the sons of Fatherland, the performances being given in German.

Chicago Tribune, June 18, 1857

Great German Singing Festival.
The Central Committee of Arrangements for the above Festival, which is the second annual gathering of the German Singing Societies in the Northwest—the first having been held at Milwaukee last year—give the following account of their preparations and arrangements.
The number of singers expected will reach nearly three hundred, including the –

The festivities commenced last night. The singers from St. Louis having notice of
their arrival, the Committee of Reception pro ceeded with a band of music to the Rock Island depot to welcome their guests. Afterward, they were conducted to their respective places of lodging; our German citizens having offered their hospitalities to the singers during the holidays.

This morning, very early, a similar scene of reception took place at the wharf of the Milwaukee boat, the Milwaukeeans having chosen that route. A large number of their friends were collected together, and the scene was a highly agreeable one.

At 10 o’clock, the official reception of the singers will take place at German House, where the headquarters will be during the festival.— The hall aud the building generally have been very handsomely decorated with garlands and appropriate mottos.

The leading ceremonies of the reception will consist in a Song of Welcome, by the Chicago singers, and Alderman Wahl will address words of greetings to the guests on behalf of the Central Committee. The rest of the morning and the afternoon will be spent with rehearsals and preparations for the great Concert in the evening. This, so far as the musical part of the festival is concerned, will be the principal feature.

Our citizens will now, for the first time, have an opportunity of witnessing grand musical efleets, produced by a chorus of so many voices. Wherever concerts of this kind have been given in this country, they have afforded universal satisfaction—the nature of the music is so vigorous and so animated, and, especially, too, so novel. The orchestra on this occasion will be larger than any previously heard here in Chicago; the Great Western band being reinforced by the Milwaukee Music-verein and several amateurs of distinction. The solo talent consists of a lady Pianist of this city, whose qualifications and excellencies will speak for themselves, and Mr. Weinberg, the Violinist, of Milwaukee, who at a concert here last winter so delighted the audience. Mr. Ainer and Mr. Kellermann will also appear in a duet for Cornets. Those who wish to enjoy a great musical treat, must go to Metropolitan Hail to-night.

Hans Balatka, of the Milwaukee Opera, with his effective baton, will rule the masses of the chorus and the orchestra.

Friday morning all the singing societies and Turners, together with the Wagnerverein, Schreinervereia, Schneiderverein, Gruetliverein, several Lodges, Fire Companies, and probably Military companies, will have a festival procession through the principal streets of our city. Many of our leading German eitizens will on that occasion appropriately decorate their houses and places of business. In the afternoon, at three o’clock, a concert will take place at the “German House,” when the different societies will have an opportunity to show their elicieney and accomplishments as singers. This will be very interesting, and some very satisfactory performances may be expected. The orchestra on that occasion will consist of the Great Western Band. The ladies and gentlemen of the musical chorus of the Maeanergesangverein will also participate in that concert.

In the evening there will be a grand ball at Light Guard Hall, and such preparations have been made as to certainly make one it of the merriest and pleasantest entertainments during the festival. It will doubtless be very largely altended, as the price is such as to enable most every body to go. Saturday morning, the North-western Saengerbund consisting of the above mentioned societies, will hold its annual meeting to determine the next place of meeting, and transact other necessary business.

In the evening there will be a performance at the German Theatre, in honor of the guests.
The play will be preceded by a prologue and a tableau, representing Thalia in the act of growning Euphrosyue with a laurel wreath.

The Pie-Nic will be the great social feature of the fe tival. If only the weather is fair, then from ten to fifteen thousand people will cer tainly repair to the place of the Pie-Nie, which will be held on the North Side, in one of the groves beyond the cemetery.
This will be a genuine German “Volkstest.” The amusements there will consist in gymnastic exercises by The Turners, singing by the Societies, and playing by two bands of music. There will also be other social games and plays. In fact, it will be an occasion of unallotted enjoyment and delight.

Should the festival be what is confidently expected, it will afford a most favorable opportunity of seeing the character of the German people, in one of its most valuable features. They will show how they can be gay without being riotous; how their feelings for the beautiful are not yet blunted by the almost exclusively material pursuits of this country.

Many of the dearest memories of the German people are associated with these festivals. In their songs, the Germans gave, and give, vent to their love of freedom and hatred of oppression; and it is on account of those precious associations, that the Germans in this country so affectionately cling to these festivals. They will throw aside all distracting issues and feelings, and give themselves up to their love of music and inclination of social enjoyment.

Chicago Tribune, December 12, 1870

THE NILSSON RECEPTION.
The reception and banguet to be tendered Christina Nilsson, by her enthusiastic countrymen, at The German House, corner of Indiana and Wells streets on Thursday evening, promises to be an important treat in the social sod musical history cIthla et. The “German House” has recently been enlarged and beautified, and now rivals Farwell Hall and the Opera House in point of elegance and room. The preparations tor the affair are in the hands of a committee of twelve, who have added six to their number, and all are devoting their undivided attention to the accomplishment of what they firmly believe will be an event unsurpassed by any in the eventful history of Nilsson’s great predecessor, Jenny Lind, some of whose receptions are yet fresh in the memories of our older citizens.

The main hall will readily hold 2,000 people, and it is here that the reception and the presentation of the beautiful silver wreath to be given her will take place. Cards of admission to this reception may be procured, gratis, though small “testimonials” will not be rejected, as the expenses will be heavy. No one will be admitted to the ball without a ticket, to avoid crowding. A strong police force will be detailed to preserve order. After the reception, those having secured tickets for the banquet will adjourn to the lower hall, and car. The sale of tickets will be limited to four hundred; each will secure the holder a reserved seat at the reception. They must be secured before Wednesday noon. The banquet will not be a stiff, staid, and solemn bore, where all are ranged around one table, to be overwhelmed by long speeches, but the capacious room will be dotted by small tables for the convenience of parties of four, six, or eight. Both halls are being profusely decorated. Many of the private and public gardeners in the city are Swedes, and they are bestowing their flowers with a lavish hand.

Chicago and the Great Coflagration, Elias Colbert and Everett Chamberlain, 1871

Chicago In 1871
Music and the drama nowhere found more enlightened or hearty encouragement. The Opera-house made no sign in 1871, beyond preparing, by a thorough overhauling, for the winter season. But it had previously been well patronized when first-class concert or operatic talent was on the boards; the place was too large for dramatic entertainments. Farwell Hall had recently received a first-class orchestra organ, and had recently become quite popular for concerts. Theodore Thomas there made his best hits. McVicker’s Theater had been entirely rebuilt a few months before the fire, and was as attractive a place as could be found in the United States; it was generally run on the “Star” principle. Wood’s Museum contained some half a million “objects of interest,” in addition to its stock company, which was one of the best, and its dramatic entertainments were uniformly well attended. The Dearborn Street Theater, erected in 1868, was occupied by the Wyndham Comedy Troupe in the summer of 1871, and was doing a rushing business. Hooley’s Opera-house (formerly Bryan Hall) was doing a paying business under the management of Frank Aiken, formerly of the Museum. The Globe Theater, in the West Division, constructed on the barn principle, in 1870, was closed in 1871 (re-opened by Colonel Wood after the fire). Besides these, there were several other minor places of amusement not necessary to be specified; and the German Theater, on North Wells Street, furnished dramatic entertainments in the Teutonic tongue.

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